3 ms·

scientifically the only names that matter are the botanic binomials (ICN or ICNafp) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Nomenclature_for_algae,

by riffic 8mo ago

scientifically the only names that matter are the botanic binomials (ICN or ICNafp) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Nomenclature_for_algae,_fungi,_and_plants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Nomencla...

wizzwizz4 8mo ago
Scientifically, communication matters. Therefore, other names do also matter.
- contingencies 8mo ago
  All other names are generally considered either common or historic. Common names are regarded as too ambiguous for scientific use, they are generally only mentioned in relevance to collections such as "How do the local people in <area x> having <population y> of <latin name z> (who might help identify where it is growing) refer to the organism?". In a small number of cases local names confer ethnobotanical or cultural semantics.
  - nephihaha 8mo ago
    I am well aware that laypeople don't always distinguish between various similar species of plants and animals, and I probably can't in some cases myself, but I am specifically interested in some of those "common or historic names" along with their "ethnobotanical or cultural semantics", to see how they might compare with words elsewhere.
    - contingencies 8mo ago
      For old Irish names I would have thought Gallic-Druidic cultural associations might have some sort of currency or influence. Maybe try looking for research with those conceptual frames of reference. Here's an example query to place with your favourite LLM: "make a list of the top 30 plants associated with traditional herbal lore in pre-modern ireland. seek gallic/druidic associations through etymology, lore and written record (if feasible). table format."
      - nephihaha 8mo ago
        There is some of that with certain names for sure. Also interested in comparisons with Manx and Scottish Gaelic and Broad Scots.
nephihaha 8mo ago
I was specifically interested in the Irish names, because they are related to some research I have been doing for a number of years. The Latin names are available in numerous other sources.
s_dev 8mo ago
Richard Feynman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_7j72CVlc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_7j72CVlc The names of birds. tl;dw: Knowing the name of something gives you no knowledge of that thing even if you can name it in every language but it's super useful to know when communicating with others.

by riffic 8mo ago

wizzwizz4 8mo ago

Scientifically, communication matters. Therefore, other names do also matter.

contingencies 8mo ago
All other names are generally considered either common or historic. Common names are regarded as too ambiguous for scientific use, they are generally only mentioned in relevance to collections such as "How do the local people in <area x> having <population y> of <latin name z> (who might help identify where it is growing) refer to the organism?". In a small number of cases local names confer ethnobotanical or cultural semantics.
- nephihaha 8mo ago
  I am well aware that laypeople don't always distinguish between various similar species of plants and animals, and I probably can't in some cases myself, but I am specifically interested in some of those "common or historic names" along with their "ethnobotanical or cultural semantics", to see how they might compare with words elsewhere.
  - contingencies 8mo ago
    For old Irish names I would have thought Gallic-Druidic cultural associations might have some sort of currency or influence. Maybe try looking for research with those conceptual frames of reference. Here's an example query to place with your favourite LLM: "make a list of the top 30 plants associated with traditional herbal lore in pre-modern ireland. seek gallic/druidic associations through etymology, lore and written record (if feasible). table format."
    - nephihaha 8mo ago
      There is some of that with certain names for sure. Also interested in comparisons with Manx and Scottish Gaelic and Broad Scots.

nephihaha 8mo ago

I was specifically interested in the Irish names, because they are related to some research I have been doing for a number of years. The Latin names are available in numerous other sources.

s_dev 8mo ago

Richard Feynman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_7j72CVlc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_7j72CVlc The names of birds. tl;dw: Knowing the name of something gives you no knowledge of that thing even if you can name it in every language but it's super useful to know when communicating with others.